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  Organized Blackmail

  A Sophia O’Malley Cozy Mystery

  By

  Angela Agranoff

  Copyright © 2015 by AKA Designs.

  http://www.akadesigns.com

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form, or by any means, including mechanical or electronic without prior written permission from the author.

  Part of this book is of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously, and any resemblance to actual person, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  While the author has made every effort to ensure that the ideas, guidelines and information presented in this book are safe, they should be used at the reader’s discretion. The author cannot be held responsible for any personal or commercial damage arising from the application or misinterpretation of information presented here.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Sophia’s Extras

  Sophia’s Recipes

  Mint Ground Coffee

  Summer Lemonade Pie

  Raspberry and Zucchini Cupcakes

  Brown Sugar Banana Bread Muffins

  Duke’s Favorite Catnip Cookies

  Pinecone Peanut Butter Treat

  Sophia’s Organizing Tips

  Organizing Bookshelves

  Organizing Artwork

  Create Your Own Cardboard Portfolio

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Sophia Wakes from Hibernation

  Sophia O’Malley patiently smiled as her soft blue eyes watched a curious squirrel through a set of glass sliding doors. The squirrel was sitting on a wooden deck attached to the back of her cabin enjoying a warm fresh breeze. Sophia was enjoying coffee from her favorite brown and white coffee mug while watching the squirrel out the window. The squirrel seemed to Sophia to be captivated by the wind as it’s thoughts—whatever thoughts a squirrel could possibly think—to be in some deep far-away dream of peanut butter. “Very simple,” Sophia whispered while starting her morning routine. She started her day the same way every day in her exquisitely designed kitchen that was rustic yet modern; homey but eloquent. Then she noticed that the squirrel was actually mesmerized by the pinecone peanut butter treat she hung in the tree yesterday. “Nothing complicated about the life of a squirrel.”

  After taking a sip of delicious hot mint flavored coffee, Sophia allowed her eyes to leave the squirrel and wander around the kitchen. She knew that if her husband were still alive he would have certain objections to her taste and how she renovated her kitchen in their dream cabin. She designed the kitchen to be inspiring and inviting to her. Sophia enjoyed organizing, but also found cooking to be an absolute delight. No matter her mood, it was always the perfect time to try something in the kitchen. This was especially true in a beautifully inspiring kitchen.

  Sophia still would get an ache in her heart when she thought about how much she enjoyed cooking for her late husband. And somehow, someway, life moved forward without him. Moving forward in difficult, stubborn, and uneven currents that at times would drag her heart down to a watery sadness that seemed to drown out any chance of ever being happy again.

  “No,” Sophia scolded herself, as a tear stung the corner of her right eye. “Not today. Today is a beautiful day. Patrick has been in heaven for two years now. He would scold me for sitting here like this.”

  Standing up from a circular dark wood table that appeared rough but somehow smooth to the touch, Sophia drew in a deep breath. At the age of forty-two she was a woman who had successfully run an organizing business for the past twenty-years. As a child, she had always been a very organized person. She made sure her toys were in proper order, as well as the books on her bookshelf. Everything in her room was put in its place, and had it’s own little home. Sophia amazed her family with her ability to place her belongings in a location that seemed as natural to her as bee’s dancing on flowers. And as Sophia grew older, her ability to organize developed into an art form.

  As Sophia continued to sip her coffee, she was brainstorming and making decisions she had been putting off for the last two years. It was just easier to not think about letting go of Patrick’s belongings. She even started questioning what she had been holding onto of her own. Since Sophia recently made the decision to revive her professional organizing business, it seemed like the perfect time to evaluate her own way of living. Sophia began to question why she kept her old toys and books. She thought there was no point in keeping old treasures that didn’t agree with her current age. Yet somehow, she couldn’t seem to part with the memories those treasures stored in her gentle mind. At the age of sixteen after the death of her grandmother, Sophia finally came to realize why people kept personal items from their past: memories. Sophia’s grandmother had given her a special silver heart-shaped locket before she died. Secured within that locket were memories. These memories would always connect Sophia to her grandmother. Sophia uses this experience to remind herself that memories are priceless. They are personally acquired through a person or object, and are tucked away into the heart and mind of that person forever. The physical object can simply be the key that unlocks those memories.

  It was this realization that softened Sophia’s heart into compassion for clutter bugs. One person may see another person’s home full of dusty boxes clogging up an attic or spare room or garage, but Sophia saw something different altogether. She saw memories, tucked and hidden away but unable to be disposed of. Those memories cried to be seen and not hidden away. After graduating from Rocky Mountain Design College with a major in Interior Design at the age of twenty-one, Sophia managed with the help of her parents, to guarantee a small business loan. Two months later she opened up “The Travelling Organizer” in her hometown with the excitement and thrill of fulfilling a life-long dream. Customers would flood in off the streets, she just knew. But no customers came. Not on the first day, or the second day, or even the third day. For two solid weeks Sophia simply sat at her desk worrying. She spent hours second-guessing herself, as many business owners do, wondering what she could do differently.

  And then an idea came to her—an idea that would take her around the world. Her mother was a travel agent. When she was younger she thought of the ways she could travel and all the romantic places she could explore. Sophia always felt that if she were to pick another career it would be in the travel industry. Why not combine her two interests into one? Why only promote her business in her own small town? Why not assist clients around the world?

  “That idea of mine certainly sent me globe-trotting,” Sophia told a lazy Tabby cat named Duke, sitting on a white marble kitchen counter next to the sink. “Mother helped me greatly. And after a while, I was off on my own two feet…seeing the world, living my dream.” Sophia spent a number of years travelling to different parts of the world helping clients who were privately referred to her. It was a dream come true . . . until Patrick came into her life. Then everything changed, and she was welcoming the change. While Patrick was alive they did some travelling together, but for the most part she helped clients closer to home, and she was fine with that. Life was simple and good.

  Sophia sat the coffee cup down into the kitchen sink. As she did, she caught her reflection in the oval window hanging over the kitchen sink. A beautiful woman with shoulder length reddish-blond hair and bright, blue eyes stared back at her. The woman was wearing
a cheerful sleeveless yellow dress that complimented her skin complexion. “Beauty fades, Duke,” Sophia whispered to her cat. “But memories are forever. Which reminds me, I really need to go out to the garage and sort through those boxes. I am ready and excited to create a fresh start. Clearing out some of the old to create space for the new adventures in my life. It’s not always easy, but nothing that is worthwhile is easy.” Sophia scratched Duke around his ears and he purred loudly. The only thing that Duke liked more than being scratched was his favorite cat cookie treats.

  Duke licked his fat paw and jumped down from the kitchen counter. Suddenly, a fluffy white Persian cat named Wilbur strolled into the kitchen, looked at Sophia and then wandered over to a set of food dishes and began to eat. Sophia smiled. “I knew you kitties would like Piney Woods. The city really was no place for you. We are all much more relaxed here. I love the small town feel, fresh air, and endless hiking trails. This place has showed me that I don’t have to travel the world to feel like I am in paradise. It’s been two years and we’re…we’re doing alright here.” Sophia explained to the two cats.

  Again, Sophia felt sadness tug at her heart. She missed Patrick. Before moving to Piney Woods, Patrick had become suddenly ill and died of cancer that spread through his body quickly. Before he died, he had made Sophia promise him that she would fulfill their dream of moving to Piney Woods to live in their cabin. Sophia promised.

  “Well,” Sophia said drawing in a deep breath. “It’s spring outside. The birds are chirping, the flowers are growing, and the mountain is alive. I waited the winter through, but now I must go out into the garage and work through the boxes. I’ll take photos of what I can part with, and I’ll make decisions of how I can donate or sell.” Sophia and Patrick never had children, which meant that she didn’t have anyone to pass her husband’s memories to.

  The phone hanging next to the stainless steel refrigerator startled Sophia, as she was deep in thought. “That’s probably for me,” Sophia forced herself to smile and winked at her cats. Walking away from the sink Sophia answered the phone.

  “Hello?”

  “Sophia, dear, I’m so relieved that you’re home. On such a beautiful day like the one we’re having I was sure you would be outside, perhaps taking a hike,” Eleanor Beaman’s old, yet intelligent, voice spoke.

  “No,” Sophia leaned against the kitchen wall while tucking the phone into her right ear. Looking at the sliding glass windows she noticed the squirrel had wandered off. “I was tempted to have a picnic with some delicious food I prepared earlier, but decided against the idea. I have some work to do here at home.”

  “Oh,” Eleanor said in a disappointed tone. “You are unavailable then?”

  Sophia’s ear perked up. Some people retired after twenty years of work. Sophia did not. After Patrick’s death she had temporarily taken a leave of absence from her work politely turning down offers from new and old clients. The old clients understood, the new seemed insulted and unable to understand a woman needed time to mourn for her husband. But lately, Sophia felt she was prepared to return back to her work. “Oh, no,” she told Eleanor in a calm voice, “I’m…well, I have some boxes to go through.”

  “Dear,” Eleanor spoke carefully, “I know you have been missing Patrick. But I thought last winter you said that come spring you would return back to work. And I want to be your very first customer.”

  “I…yes, I would like that very much,” Sophia smiled.

  “It is wonderful to hear you say that. You are aware that the Piney Woods Annual Book sale is approaching.”

  “Yes. In…two weeks I believe,” Sophia spoke.

  “Yes. I was hoping, dear, that you could help me go through some items, organize, and arrange them. Some items will be for the book sale…others…will not.”

  Eleanor’s tone caused Sophia to pay more attention to her words. They had met through a local book club and Sophia found the Eleanor charming, honest, sincere, and caring. Even though Sophia eventually left the book club, her friendship with Eleanor grew. “Other items?” Sophia carefully asked.

  “Dear, there are certain areas in my home that need my attention. With the book sale approaching, I decided that I am ready to go through the books in my library so others can enjoy what I have no more use for. I have hundreds of books in my large library, and I remember you telling me how you love to organize books! I’ve known you for two years and I have seen your portfolio. I need a professional and a friend to help me.”

  “You know I’m both of those things,” Sophia promised Eleanor.

  “I know dear. This is why I must ask you to keep your hired services…quiet. The Annual State Women’s Garden Club is being held at my home beginning next week. I don’t…dear, I need you to be a whisper in the hallways…unseen and unheard.”

  “Eleanor, this seems very strange,” Sophia spoke with caution. “It’s not like you to—“

  Eleanor politely, but firmly, interrupted. “Sophia, I am hiring you for your professional abilities, but also as a confidant. As my friend, I ask that you not question my motives. Can you agree to that?”

  “I can,” Sophia promised.

  “Very good,” Eleanor replied with relief in her voice. “Can you be at my estate tomorrow morning?”

  “Around ten-ish,” Sophia asked.

  “Ten-ish will be splendid. I will see you then, goodbye dear.”

  “Strange,” Sophia said as she put the phone back down on its cradle. “Something is going on with Eleanor. I can hear it in her voice. Something is wrong.”

  Outside the squirrel returned back to its original spot. This time the squirrel focused on Sophia. A dark cloud was moving in over Piney Woods.

  Chapter 2

  Painting Memories

  Sophia wondered if the light blue dress with white polka dots on it made her look too girly instead of professional? She knew that wearing pants and a comfortable shirt was more practical for the down and dirty job of organizing. However, today was a special day. Eleanor was her first client after a long reprieve from the work she loves. It was a celebration of sorts and nothing like a having your first client being one with a mysterious project. “The polka dots are perfect!” Sophia thought as she hopped in her jeep on her way to visit Eleanor. Off she went on her new organizing adventure!

  As she drove to Eleanor’s home, Sophia was thinking about how she missed meeting with clients. She loved the idea of helping people organize their spaces and experiencing the transformation before her very eyes. It was heart breaking for Sophia when she had a client who was miserable, stuck, and unorganized. She felt like it wasn’t work at all when she was able to reorganize and make a space special for her client. Of course her trips to the city to visit the big organizing store was the cherry on top. Sophia was truly excited about getting back to what she loves.

  Looking to her left and right as she slowly navigated her jeep up and around Eleanor’s driveway. Sophia marveled at the beautifully manicured and breath-taking flower gardens that seemed to reach for the Heavens and sing to the Angels. Above her jeep a soft, gentle blue sky looked down at the flower gardens through the eyes of a glowing sun that gave life to the beautiful petals of each flower.

  As Sophia rounded the curve, and her mind immediately shifted from the flower gardens to the large, white Colonial Style home sitting on a hill. The home was immaculate, towering above the grounds like a flawless beauty waiting for her long lost husband to return home from some far away war. “This is amazing,” Sophia whispered as she parked her jeep in front of the home.

  Getting out of her jeep, Sophia took a moment to examine the beauty that encamped itself around her like a gentle, loving canvas. A gentle breeze brought mixed in the scent of pines from the mountains from behind the estate with the wonderful smell radiating from the flowers. The two smells, Sophia thought drawing in a deep breath, seemed to go together like two long ago dancers dancing to a song only their hearts could understand.

  “Sophia dear,” Ele
anor spoke.

  Startled, Sophia looked to her left and saw Eleanor walk through a white iron gate that led you into a personal path that strolled down into the flower gardens. She waved. “Hello, Eleanor. My, you look beautiful.”

  “I’m wearing my old straw hat, a plain tan dress, and sandals I once wore when Michael and I visited Namibia. I look as if I’m ready to go back to Africa and hunt some game,” Eleanor told Sophia in a relaxed and calm voice.

  Sophia smiled. Even though Eleanor’s long hair was now completely gray and her face was covered in wrinkles, she still saw the beauty that once consumed her. This is a raw, mysterious, untamed beauty that still peeked out at the world at times; a mysterious beauty that matched a mysterious intelligence. “Well, you look beautiful to me.”

  “That’s very kind of you dear,” Eleanor told Sophia pausing a few feet in front of her. “I love that dress. It flows very well with your red hair. I like that your hair is down and free this morning. You look ready for a party.” Sophia replied, “Yes, celebrating my return to the work I Iove.”

  Sophia felt relief touch her chest and smiled. Eleanor was not the type of woman to issue fake compliments. The woman was brutally honest. “Well,” she said taking another deep breath, “shall we go inside and get to work?”